The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-09-15
As GOOD IS GOLD.


shirt, or bake loaf of bread; but there
was Miss Fish, a plain girl, to be sure
but so good, splendid housekeeper, and
all that I always liked Almira Fish;
and Gregory to marry Fanny Morrison
Well, as I said, I told him what / thought
of him and her, and the boy showed his
temper, and for six months I never saw
him.
bore it as long as could. but moth
er must be a fool about her only boy; so
one day, as he wouldn't come to me,
went to him, as the rascal knew / would.
1 went to the Office and walked up to the
desk, and l was going to scold him, but
something came over me that made me
choke to keep the tears back, and before
friends
"And now you'll go and see Fanny,
said he; land I'll find you there when 1
come home at night and after a little
coaxing I said 1 would go and more
than that, L went.
The house was cunning little place a
mile or two out of town, and | must say,
it was very neat outside.
I rang the bell; it shone as it ought to-,
and before it stopped tinkling some one
opened the door. 1t was pretty young
woman in a blue chintZ wrapper, and
when l asked her if Mrs. Gregory Bray
was at home, she answered.:
"Yes, that is my name. I've been eX-
pecting you an age, but better late than
never"
How did you know was coming?" l
asked, puzzled to know how she knew
me, for we had never met before.
''Oh, didn't know" said She "Inneed,
had made up my mind you wouldn't;
but it is a long way out here, know
Come right up stairs. Miss Jones was
here yesterday to cut and baste, but we
will find it as much as we can do to do
the trimming between u.s."
'Cool," I thought. Then 1 said, 81 sup
pose you are having dress made?"
"a suit said she; skirt, overskirt,
nice button-holes."
Il should hope do" said L. 81 would
be ashamed of myself if I couldn't"
$50 many can't" said she; "but told
Miss Jones to send me an experienced
hand, and she said there was no better
than Mrs. Switzer.'
Now [ began to understand. My
daughter-in-law took me for a seamstress
she expected, and if ever a woman had
chance, / had one now. Not a word did
say, only I wondered if seamstresses
generally came to work in grosgrain silk
and cashmere shawl; and 1 sat down in
the rocking chair she gave me and went
to work with will. [ can sew with any
one, and as for button -holes-but this is
not my story.
She was a pretty girl, that daugnter-in-
law of mine, and very chatty and sociable.
talked of this, and talked of that, but
but not word did she say of her mother
in-law. [ spoke of people I had known
who had quarreled with their relations.
but she did not tell me that her husbands
mother had quarreled with him.
AT last I spoke right out about moth
ers-in-law, and I said:
''As a rule, mothers-in-law and daugh-
ters-in-law don't agree
Said she: ''That's a very wrong state
of things"
"Well," said 1, Il suppose it is, but how
do account for it?"
Il suppose young people are selfish
when they are first in love-" said she, 'and
forget old peoples feelings"
1t was an answer did not expect.
GTt ic n1ajn Won aro friaD6Iu with uo,,r
mother-in-law," said l.
81 am sure 1 should be if I had ever
seen her"
"Ohl then I've been misinformed," said
said I. 81 was told that Mr. Gregory Bray
WAS the son Of Mrs. Bray who lives on
street"
THAT is perfectly true; but still we
have never met"
"How'singular!' said L. Il suppose it
is old Mrs. Bray's fault. I've heard she
was very queer old lady,"
'Y ou haven't heard the truth, then,"
said my daughter-in-law. "My husbnd's
mother is very fine woman in every re-
spect. But when my husband told her
suddenly he was going to marry u girl
she never saw, she was naturally startled
and she said some things about me, know
ing I was fresh from boarding school and
no hOuSe-keeper, that offended Gregory
and so there has been an estrangement
l think my dear husband little to blame,
and l have urged him dozen times to
go and see her. He is very fond Of and
thinks no one like her in many things !;
bis temper is up, and it will take time to
cool it. Meanwhile, | feel quite sure if
she knew me she would like me better
Perhaps that is a piece of vanity, but l
should try to make her, you know, and l
won't fall into absurd s'lperstitions that
woman must hate her mother-in-law.
l can't remember my own mother, and
Gregory's certainly would seem to come
next to her. Now you have the story,
Mrs. Switzer"
81 am sure it does you credit, and the
old lady ought to be ashamed of herself
[ wanted to get up and kiss my daugh-
ter-in-law then and there, but that would
have spoiled my fun, so after that sewed
hard and didn't say much, and together
we finished the pretty silk dress, and had
just finished it when key in the door
caught both our ears.
''That is my husband" said my daugh-
ter-in-law; and [ knew it was Gregory.
Up stairs he came, two steps at a time,
opened the door and looked at us with Il
bright smile on his face.
'This is as it should be- said he. Fan
ny, l shall kiss mother first, this time
And he put his arms around US both
but Fanny gave little scream.
"Oh! Gregory, what are you about
This is Mrs. Switzer, who is making my
dress. At least have thought so all day.